Adjustable fluorescent light fixture



April 3, 1956 M. H. KRUGER ADJUSTABLE FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1951 INVENTOR MICHAEL HENRY KRUGER 4/: ATTORNEY April 3, 1956 M. H. KRUGER ADJUSTABLE FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 195] R E G U R R K T V mR V N NE H L E nn H m M 4/ ATTORNEY ADJUSTABLE FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE Michael Henry Kruger, Malden, Mass, assiguor to A. L. Smith Iron Company, Chelsea, Mass a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 25, 1951, Serial No. 233,379

8 Claims. (Cl. 240-.51.11)

This invention relates to lighting fixtures in general and more especially to combination light distributors nd h s ngs.-

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved combination adjustable light distributor and fixed housing, in which the housing is fixed and the light distributor may With facility be positioned in any one of a number, of positions parallel to and in a predetermined are described about an imaginary central axis of the housing.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved combination adjustable light distributor and housing which will lend itself to be connected in tandem, axial alinernent t successive sections or in parallel alinement of adjacent sections to satisfy various decorative and practical requirements.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed crip on of specific embodimen s thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is perspective looking upward at an angle at a single unit light distributor and housing in position adjacent a ceiling as an instance.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line ,2-2 of Fig. 1 on a large scale than that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental section similar to Fig. 2 showing the anchoring means for the light distributor spaced from the light distributOr.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section on the1ine4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a tragmental view partly infscction showing the connection between two successive housings made accor i to h pr n invention connected in. t n em.

the arms 9 of the two end brackets 10 having inner faces opposing one another.

The arcuate or segmental cylindrical wall 2 of the fixed housing 11 is provided with elongated openings 12 adjacent the caps or first endplates 3 and 4 disposed centrally of the arc of the wall 2 and spaced from the panel 1 at its ends to allow substantial areas or portions 13, in the present instance a little less than one-third the distance I of the complete arc, in which portions 13 there are provided the projection receiving or position defining openings 14, the openings 12 being disposed intermediate a pair of rows of position defining openings 14 in said portions 13. H a

The brackets 10 have large wall areas or depending second end plates 15, each of which, see Fig.2,has similar concave arcuate edges 16 and 17 extending in opposite directions from the arm 9 of each bracket 10. Extending downwardly from the outer ends of the edges 16 and 17, each area has similarly convex arcuate flanges 1S and 19, respectively, and a convex arcuate lower edge 120 extending from the lower end of one flange 18 to the lower end of the other flange 19. The are of the edges 1 16 and 17 conforms to the arc of the arcuate wall 2 so 6 i a p rspective of. an opaque light reflect r looki s award at an angle at the same.

e 7 i a pe pec ive showing osec ions of the combi ation ligh distributor and. housing in. parallel adjacent position relative to one another.

ig. 8 is a p r pective showing two secti ns of the com i ion light dist ibutor and housing in tandem alin ment of successive sections; v

The troffer or wire containing housing portion of the combination light distributor and housing, see Figs. 1 and 2, consists essentially of a plane panel 1 connected atits lateral longitudinally extending sides tothe inner faces of the upper ends of the arcuate Wall 2, with caps 3 and 4 formed integral, in the present instance withvthe panel 1, and bent down adjacent the outer edges of the arcuate wall 2. v V i The caps 3 and 4 are provided with knockout disks 5 having the conventional weakened cdges,,'wh ich disks 5 may be removed to'enabl'e wires, such as the wires 6', see Fig. 2, to pass therethrough from one section tov the next when the sections are connected in tandem as shown in Fig. 8, or in some instances to passout of a section to the source of current as an instance.

Each of the caps 3 and 4 in the present instance is provided with a screw 7 and a nut 8 pivotally to attach that the bracket 10 may be swung around its pivot screw 7 with the edges 16 and 17 just clearing the arcuate wall 2 throughout their path of movement. In each of the flanges 18 and 19 near the edges 16 and 17, respectively, there is secured the base 20 of the chambered elongated hub 21 containing the spring, not shown, of the sprin tensed fiat button 22. The flanges 13and 19. are provided to form a base or support for the removable separate anchoring means or strap 23 consisting essentially of a long intermediate curved portion 24 connected by the hinges 123 at its ends to the two shorter curved portions 25 and 26 The free ends of the curved portions 25 and 26 have the outwardly extending arms 27 and 28, respectively, with inwardly extending projections or abutments 29 formed therein corresponding in size and form to the openings 14 so that they will snugly fit in the openings 14 with which they register. I there are formed openings 129 and 130 corresponding in size and form to the chambered hubs 21 to enable the devices or buttons 22 to pass therethrough when in alinement with the hubs 21 so that after the buttons have passed through the openings 129, 13% they may be turned ninety degrees against the tension of their springs so that they may rest against the edges 131 surrounding the openings 129 and 130 under the tension of their springs and lock the portions 25 and 26 in position and therefore also the portion 24. When an anchoring strap 23 is mounted upon the flanges 18 and 19 as shown in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the distance from the lowest opening 14 on the left hand side of the arcuate wall 2 looking at Fig. 2, to the lowest opening 14 on the right hand side of the arcuate wall 2 corresponds to the distance from the projection 29 on the curved portion 25 to the projection 29 on the curved portion 26 when it is desired to position the light distributor so that the lower edges of the end plates or areas 15 are substantially parallel to the panel 1. In turn, however, when it is desired to position the light distributor askew, that is, when oneof the projections 29, as. for instance the protection 29 on the curved portion 26, enters. in an opening 14 other than the lowest opening 14, 11 the projection 29 on the other portion 25 will register with the elongated opening 12, see Figs. 1 and 2, in which cas he. position. of the trap 23. is determ n y y one opening 14, as shown in Fig. 2..

In the area 15 of each bracket 19 and extending in wardly therefrom, there are Secured the lamp sockets 30 and 31 when provided for two fluorescent lamps. Ohviously each area 15 may lac-provided with a single lamp In the shorter portions25 and 26 in turn socket when only one lamp is to be used, or more than two lamp sockets when more than two lamps are to be used without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The end plates or areas 15 and the anchoring straps 23 are provided to position the removable separate light distributor or reflector, such as the glass reflector 32, preferably composed of translucent glass or the like as shown in Fig. 2, in which case the reflector 32 includes a lower main convex sheet 33 and two upwardly cxtendin shorter convex side sheets 34 and 35, the sheet 33 in or ction conforming to the lower edges of the areas 25, and the side sheets 34 and 35 in cross section conforming to the flanges 18 and 359 of the areas so that the side sheets 34 and 35 may fit within the flanges E3 and 15 as shown in Fig. 2, and the main sheet 33 may rest on the upturned edges 36 of the portions 24 of the anchoring straps 23.

When assembling a unit such as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the housing 11 might initially be secured in position to the ceiling or wall of a structure, with the brackets it) extending downwardly therefrom, in alinement with one another and rotated to the position desired. Thereupon the anchoring straps 23 may have one of their alincd short portions. as an instance the portions 25, secured in place by the buttons 22. Thereupon the lamps 37 and 3d are secured in the sockets 3i and 31, respectively, then the reflector 32 positioned as shown in Fig. 2, and the straps 23 swung around with the portions 2-4 engaging the main sheet 33 of the reflector through its edges 36, and the other short portions 26 secured in place on the flanges 29 by the buttons 22.

When a plurality of units are connected in tandem as shown in Fig, 8 as an instance, the knockout discs 5 of the caps 3 and 4 of successive adjacent housings 11 are knocked out and couplings positioned, such as the chambered cellar 137 with its shoulder 138 engaging one cap 3 and its nut 39 engaging the other cap 4. The wires 6 from the lamps 37 and 33 can be passed from one housing ii to the next through the opening 40 formed in the collar 13). On the other hand, when it is desired to arrange a plurality of units in parallel, adjacent position as shown in Fig. 7, then preferably a screw 41 is passed through two alined openings 14 and the nut 42 secured to the other end thereof as shown.

Instead of the glass reflector 32, an opaque reflector 43 composed of metal or the like may be used, in which case. however, the wings 44 and 45 are integral with one another and spaced from one another at their lower edges 46 and 47 so that the edges 46 and 47 will rest on the edges 36 of the anchoring straps 23. With reflectors, such as the reflector 43, the lamps 37 and 33 will of course be exposed to view when looking upwardly at the lighting fixture, whereas with reflectors such as the reflector 32, the lamps 37 and 38 will be concealed from view and merely the transmitted light from the same be visible when looking upwardly at the lighting fixture.

it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a lighting Mture, the combination of a longitudinally extending wire containing housing arcuate in cross section having first end plates on said housing,

, brackets pivotally connected to said first end plates, said brackets having second end plates extending below said housing and having inner faces facing toward one another, at least two lamp sockets mounted in each of said second plates and extending from said inner faces to engage and support the ends of tubular lamps when said second end plates are in alinement with one another, a light distributor having two outwardly and downwardly extending wings, the upper edges of which are spaced apart 7 conforming to, and engaging the outer face of, said housing and extending from said housing to distribute the light from said lamp, straps supporting said light distributor, means connecting the end portions of said straps to said brackets, and means anchoring said straps and therewith said brackets, light distributor and lamp to said housing at various positions relative to said housing.

2. The combination of a fixed housing having a downwardly depending horizontally extending segmental cylindrical wall, downwardly extending first end plates fixed to the ends of said wall, there being two rows of position defining openings in alinement with one another in said wall adjacent each end plate, each row extending downpartway along said wall, there being a large opening in each wall adjacent each end plate, each large opening being disposed intermediate two of said alined rows of openings, a bracket for each first end plate having an upper arm extending through one of said large openings and a depending second end plate having an inner face, means pivotally connecting the upper end of each arm to the inner face of one of said first end plates at a point centrally disposed relative to the are of said cylindrical wall, at least two lamp sockets positioned in each of said second end plates extending from said inner faces to support a light source extending from one bracket to the other when said second end plates are in alinement with one another, a removable separate light distributor having two outwardly and downwardly extending wings, the upper edges of which are spaced apart conforming to, and engaging the outer face of, said housing and extending from said housing to distribute the light from the light source, and removable separate anchoring means extending under said distributor and around the edges of said brackets having projections engaging certain of said position defining openings not only simultaneously to connect said distributor to said brackets and housing, but also to connect said distributor in any one of a number of positions of said brackets relative to said housing determined by the position defining openings selected for engagement by said anchoring means.

3. The combination of a fixed housing having a downwardly depending horizontally extending segmental cylindrical wall, downwardly extending first end plates fixed to the ends of said wall, there being two rows of position defining openings in alinement with one another in said wall adjacent each end plate, each row extending down partway along said wall, there being a large opening in each wall adjacent each end plate, each large opening being disposed intermediate two of said alined rows of openings, a bracket for each first end plate having an upper arm extending through one of said large openings and a depending second end plate having an inner face, means pivotally connecting the upper end of each arm to the inner face of one of said first end plates at a point centrally disposed relative to the are of said cylindrical Wall, at least two lamp sockets positioned in each of said second end plates extending from said inner faces to support a light source extending from one bracket to the other when said second end plates are in alinement with one another, a removable separate light distributor having two outwardly and downwardly extending wings, the upper edges of which are spaced apart conforming to, and engaging the outer face of, said housing and extending from said housing to distribute the light from the light source, two laterally extending flanges on each second end plate, each flange extending laterally from the side edges of said second end plates, two devices mounted on each of said flanges adjacent to said first end plates, one device on each flange, and straps having openings therein to enable said devices to pass therethrough and then be actuated to anchor said straps to said flanges, each of said straps extending around the flange of a second end plate from one to the other side of said cylindrical wall with a part disposed below said light distributor to anchor it in place and having projections engaging certain of said position-defining openings not only simultaneously to connect said distributor to said brackets and housing but also to connect said distributor in any one of a number of positions of said brackets relative to said housing determined by the position-defining openings selected for engagement by said straps.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said straps has two end sections and an inte1= mediate section hinged to one another, said end sections being the parts of said straps which are connected by said devices to said flanges and said intermediate section constitnting the part of each of said straps disposed below said light distributor.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said arms extend across the inner faces of said first end plates, and said second end plates have concave upper edges conforming to and clearing said cylindrical wall when pivotally moved about said first end plates.

6. The combination of a fixed housing having a downwardly depending horizontally extending segmental cylindrical wall, downwardly extending first end plates fixed to the ends of said wall, there being two rows of position defining openings in alinement with one another in said wall adjacent each end plate, each row'extending down partway along said wall, there being a large opening in each wall adjacent each end plate, each large opening being disposed intermediate two of said alined rows of openings, a bracket for each first end plate having an upper arm extending through one of said large openings and a depending second end plate having an inner face, means pivotally connecting the upper end of each arm to the inner face of one of said first end plates at a point centrally disposed relative to the arc of said cylindrical wall, lamp sockets positioned in said second end plates extending from said inner faces to support a light source extending from one bracket to the other when said second end plates are in alinement with one another, a removable separate light distributor having two outwardly and downwardly extending wings, the upper edges of which are spaced apart conforming to, and engaging the outer face of, said housing and extending from said housing to distribute the light from the light source, two laterally extending flanges on each second end plate, each flange extending laterally from the side edges of said second end plates, two devices mounted on each of said flanges adjacent to said first end plates, one device on each flange, and straps having openings therein to enable said devices to pass therethrough and then be actuated to anchor said straps to said flanges, each of said straps extending around the flange of a second end plate from one to the other side of said cylindrical wall with a part disposed below said light distributor to anchor it in place, said straps having two end sections and an intermediate section hinged to one another, said end sections being the parts of said straps which are connected by said devices to said flanges and said intermediate section constituting the part of each of said straps disposed below said light distributor, said end sections having outwardly extending arms at their free ends and projections in said outwardly extending arms engaging certain of said position defining openings.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said light distributor is composed of glass and has an intermediate portion between said two Wings, the intermediate portion resting on the intermediate sections of said straps and the wings being positioned inside of said flanges.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said light distributor is composed of metal and the lower edges of its wings rest on the intermediate sections of said straps and the wings are positioned inside of said flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,651,640 Spencer Dec. 6, 1927 1,754,960 Mayer Apr. 15, 1930 2,003,342 Cavanaugh June 4, 1935 2,308,986 Livers Jan. 19, 1943 2,382,878 Holecek Aug. 14, 1945 2,559,424 Guth, Ir July 3, 1951 

